Lt. Colonel Joseph Iorshagher Akaagerger (born 5 May 1956) was the Military Administrator of Katsina State, Nigeria from August 1998 to 29 May 1999. After the return to democracy, in April 2007 he was elected to the Senate representing Benue North East. Background Akaagerger was born on 5 May 1956 in Konshisha local government area of Benue State, of Tiv origins. He attended Government Secondary School, Gboko (1969–1973). Joining the army, he attended the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna (1976–1977), the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, United Kingdom (1977–79). He also obtained LLB and LLM degrees from the University of Jos and a doctorate degree in International Economic Law from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He holds the traditional title of Ambe u Konshisha (the Konshisha Crocodile). He is a kinsman of former Attorney-General and Justice Minister Michael Aondoakaa. Military career Akaagerger held various posts in the army, rising to the rank of Lt. Colonel. He was a Directing Staff at the Command and Staff College, Zaria when he was appointed Military Administrator of Katsina State during the transitional regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar in August 1998. He was said to have provided state funding for the successful Katsina governorship campaign of Umaru Musa Yar'Adua (later to become president), who took office at the start of the Nigerian Fourth Republic in May 1999. After the handover it was found that the state had a liability of N35 million from the ministries, N174 million from the parastatals and an overdraft from Bank of the North in the region of N75 million, as well as other debts. Following the return to democracy, as a former military administrator he was required to retire from the army. Senator Akaagerger joined the United Nigeria Peoples Party (UNPP). In the 2003 elections, he was UNPP candidate for election to the Senate in Benue State for the Benue North East constituency, but was not elected. In June 2004 he crossed over to the People's Democratic Party (PDP). In the 2007 elections he ran again for Benue NE, this time on the PDP platform. In the primaries, he did not obtain the required 2/3 majority, but was elected as candidate on a straight majority, as was Senator David Mark in the Benue South senatorial zone. Unongo gave him his support, and he was elected, taking office in May 2007. In January 2008, an election petition tribunal in Makurdi nullified his